PROSPECTING PLAYBOOK 1.11

[PHOTO: Picture of Vincent Van Gogh 1886.  I'm sure he would have used one of his own paintings for his Linkedin profile, but this is the first photo I've ever seen of him.].

Linkedin Self Portrait

People today are amazingly talented and amazingly open to sharing such.  Spend some time on Pinterest and see what I mean.  Some of the discussions on Linkedin include brilliant ideas and insight and the contributions to Wikipedia are inspired.  Yes, today we have more opportunities to share our genius but share it we do, freely.

But most of these people we don’t know.  They’re “strangers”, and what did our mothers say about strangers?  And yet many of us went into sales … to spite our moms, or did we get their okay? I digress.

There are some truly amazing people everywhere and in our own backyards.  You are most likely one yourself.  You all would be fun and fascinating to meet.  And we have an ideal tool with which to meet them …. Linkedin.

With Linkedin we can look at your profile and very likely we can and will discover one, two or three things that we have in common.

From points of commonality an introduction can be crafted and conversation easily begun.  From a conversation relationships begin.

What are your points of commonality?  What have you done, and are doing?  What things make up your career … so far?  If we were to look at your Linkedin profile, would we want to meet you?  Would you want to meet you?

Here’s my point; paint a full and interesting self-portrait with your Linkedin profile.  Do not copy your resume.  Do not go overboard trying to sell whatever it is you’re trying to sell right now.  You as a whole person are much more interesting than whatever it is you’re selling today.

And though your whole person is the more interesting, fascinating and brilliant; strangers are seeking but a couple points of commonality.  And the more points we can find, the more we are likely to accept your invitation to connect.  Give us the full picture.  We’re on Linkedin; we want to connect.

If you are prospecting for new business or networking towards a new job, provide a full menu of interesting details so we who do not yet know you will have a variety of fascinating stuff to consider while deciding if we want to accept your invitation.

Charlotte, NC